Well drilling



June 19, 1928. 1,674,069

- w. SHELDON WELL DRILLING Filed April 4, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BY M 2 .WMLATTORNEY June 19, 1928. 1,674,069

W. SHELDON WELL DRILLING Filed April 4, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 16 Waldg 5% I mg Patented June 19, 1928.

UNITED STATES WALDO SHELDON, OF GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT.

WELL DRILLING.

Application filed April 4, 1924. Serial No. 704,102.

. This invention relates particularly to deep well drillingand the objects of the invention are to provide apparatus for this purpose which will enable accurate control of the drill feeding operations, permitting pressure on the drill stem to be maintained constant, increased or decreased at will; which can be operated either with diamond drill bits or as a' regular rotar drill; which will be free of the objectionable gyratory action common to rotary drilling apparatus in use at the present time and which, furthermore, will be relatively simple in construction and practic-a1 in all respects.

The various novel features which make possible the attainment of the foregoing are set forth in the following specification.

The accompan ing drawings, forming part of this speci cation, illustrate a practical embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that the structure may vary without departure from the broad spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

Figure 1 in the drawings isa side elevation and part sectional view of a form of the invention designed -for drilling deep oil wells.

Figure 2 is aplan view of the main parts of the same. 7

Figure. 3 is a sectional view across the barrel of the table, taken substantially on the plane of line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged broken sectional detail of the thrust yokebearings.

Figure 5 is a similar detail of the upper supporting bearing forthe rotary table. 7

Figure 6 is a sectional-view of a drive bushing or adapter which can be used for holding the drill stem in the table when the apparatus is to be operated as a straight rotary.

The frame of the apparatus is shown as made up of I-beanis 7 on which there is sup ported a bed 8. This bed may be in the form of a flat steel plate, such as indicated,

having a seat or opening 9 at the center for the base of the table and openings 10 at opposite sides of the same for the two power cylinders. r

The table base Consists in the main ofa rigid tubular casing ,11 extending down through the central opening in the bed plate and supported by a collar or shoulder .12 at its upper end having abearing onp-top ot the bed plate.

The'table 13 is shown as driven by the customary gearing 1-l-15 but this table differs from'the usual form of construction by being provided with a dependent tubular extension or bearing sleeve 16 which extends down into the guide casing 11 of the-base and is journaled therein.

In the present disclosure two bearings are actually provided, oneat the top of the easing, directly beneatlrthe rim. of the table and shown as a ballbearing 17 and the other at the lower end of the casing and shown as a plain bearing 18 on a bearing liner 19 set in the sleeve of the table base. The up per end of this liner is shown as providing a hearing at 20, for the upper end of the table sleeve below the ball bearing. This bearing construction provides for keeping the table running truly at all times.

In order to support a suitable quantity of lubricant in this lower table bearing, the bearing sleeve is shown as having an annular collar 21 attached to the lowerend of the same, extending out be 0nd the lower end of the casing and carrying an upstanding flange or casing 22 forming an annular lubricantwell.

By means of this construction it will be seen that thetable, while free to rotate, is guided and positively held against any \vabbling or gyratory movements. The upper and lower bearings are usually quite widely separated, for example, a matter of thirty inches or more, with the upper bearing above or substantially at the level of the derrick floor andthe lower bearing in the clear below the derrick floor where it can be reached for adjustment purposes.

Slidingly keyed in the table sleeve is a tubular chuck stem 23 carrying'at its upper end a setof drill stemengaging jaws 24 actu ated by bolts 25. The keying engagement between the table sleeve and chuck stem is shown as effected by means of angular keys 26, engaged in longitudinal keyways 27 and 28 in the table sleeve and stem respectively.

The drill stem is indicated at 29 in Figure 1 held by the chuck jaws and guided at the lower end of the chuck stem by a correspondingly shaped bushing 30 slipped into the stem and rcmovably supported on a flange detachably secured to the lower end of the chuck stem.

A positively lifting and lowering force is applied to the chuck stem for the purpose of raising-orlowering the drill stem by a. power actuated head 31 held relatively rotatably on the chuck stem between spaced annular thrust shoulders 32, 33. Ball bearings 34 and bearing rings or cones 35 are indicated interposed at these thrust shoulders to reduce the friction.

Theupper thrust shoulder 32 is shown made as a separate part removably secured to the collar which carries the lower flan e or shoulder 33 by bolts 36. The chuck bo y 52 is shown removably secured to the flange 32 by bolts 53. This construction permits ready removal and the substitution of different forms of chucks, the ready inspection and repair of the thrust bearings and when desired, complete removal of the yoke or non-rotating head 31.

The power applying head is shown constructed after the manner ofa collar, surrounding the chuck stem, having diametrically opposite projecting arms 37 provided with sockets 38 receiving the upper ends of the piston rods 39, rising at the sides of the table and having pistons 40 working in cylinders 41, supported below the level of the table in the seats 10 in the bed plate.

The power cylinders are shown as outwardly flanged at their upper ends at 42 to seat on the supporting collars 43 and as having covers 44 secured in place by the bolts 45 which pass through all these parts into the bed plate so as to both secure the parts together and removably fasten the power cylinders in position. Thusthe removal of these bolts enables the detachment of the cylinder head or the complete removal of the power cylinder from its seat in the bed plate.

The cylinder head is shown as constructed with a deep seat in the center of the same to receive the packing 46 and. the adjustable follower 47 which can be advanced to compress the packin by the nuts 48. This follower is of Sn stantial length so as to provide a bearing for the piston rod and so as also to provide a seat completely housing the end of the head when the same is lowered therein, as indicated in broken lines at the left in Figure 1. As a further protection to the lowered end of the piston rod, an annular ca 49 is shownpositioned over the entire pac ring gland structure.

The piston rods are shown as having a readily detachable engagement with the nonrotating head of the chuck by means of angular keys 6O seated in correspondingly shaped alined o enings in the ends of the arms 37 of the lead and ends of the rods respectively. The ends of the rods where they seat in the sockets 38 are shown as of reduced diameter and shouldered at 51. It will be evident that by knocking out the transverse keys 60, the power cylinders can be entirely disconnected from the chuck and the pistons be lowered so that the rods are housed within the cylinders and thus out of the way of all operations about the table.

Also if desired, the complete chuck structure, after disconnection from the power cylinders can be lifted out of the rotary table, leaving the table free and clear for ordinary rotary drilling operations. For such purposes the outfit will usually be provided with one or a number of drill stem bushings such as the one illustrated at 55 in Figure 6 shown as seating partly in the bore of the rotary table and having a flange 56 resting on top of the table secured by bolts 57. This adapter is shown as having a tapered passage 58 to receive the slips, drive bushings or other drill engaging means. This passage, forming the seat for the drill stem clamp is shown as extending partly above the table, but in different forms of adapters which may be used with the table, such seat may be disposed entire] above the table 'or located wholly within the bore of the table.

The admission of fluid under pressure to the power cylinders is controlled by suitable valve and piping connections, a part of which are indicated at 54. By exercising a proper control the drilling force may be regulated as desired and the drill stem may be readily raised and lowered. When necessary the power cylinders can be quickly removed by unfastening the securing bolts and then simply hoisting them out of their seats in the bed plate; similarly, the table may be lifted out of its base after the stop flange 21 has been detached from the lower end of the same.

The construction disclosed overcomes gyratory tendencies and keeps the drill stem balanced and running straight and true. The pressure on the drill stem may be maintained uniform or be instantly varied and to any desired extent, to suit changing conditions. The fineness of control which the invention makes possible is particularly important when operating with diamond bits and the like, where great accuracy of feed is essential to successful operations.

The long bearings for the iston rods provided by the inverted stalling glands keep the piston rods parallel and are particularly useful in overcoming the twisting efi'ort exerted on the yoke when the piston rods are projected to their fullest extent. The removal of the chuck and yoke construction and the lowering of the piston rods into the power cylinders leaves the rotary table free and unimpeded so that the same may be used for any ordinary or special drilling operations and so that the way is clear for using the wrenches, clamps and any other tools which may be found necessarv or useful for such operations.

The removability of the chuck body 52 s a particularly important feature in that it enables the substitution of adapters and bushings such as used in regiilar drilling operations. This it will be seen makes the invention fully adaptable for all kinds of rotary and diamond drilling operations and the hydraulic feed provides a more refined and accurate control which can be used either as the sole feeding means or be used in conjunction with the ordinary cable hoist method of feeding. Also whendesired the cables feed may be used alone. The apparatus is thus universally adaptable for all kinds of conditions and requirements which may be encountered in rotary and diamond drilling operations.

The chuck also may be used in place of a rod brake to control the drill stem while coming out of the hole under pressure. Thus the apparatus may be used for bringing in a well and for taking the drill stem out under pressure. The power of the pressure cylinders may be used to hold the drill stem while it is coming out under pressure after the manner ofa snubbing device and if desired, smooth chuck jaws may be employed and their pressure'regulated to act as brakes on the drill stem.

What is claimed is:

1. In a well drilling apparatus, supporting beams, a bed plate supported on said beams, an elongated rigid large diameterbearing sleeve dependent from said her plate between the beams, a rotary table hav ing a large rigid elongated dependent sleeve journaled in the dependent bearing sleeve of the bed plate, a tubular chuck stem slid ingly keyed in the dependent sleeve of said rotary table, drill stem gripping means car ried. by the upper end of said tubular stein, a pressure applying head having a relatively rotatableengagement with said tubular stem and power mechanism sustained from the bed plate between the beams and connected with said head. i

2. In well drilling apparatus, supporting beams arranged in spaced relation, a flat bed plate supported on said beams and having an opening therethrough between the beams large enough to pass both the well casing and the drill pipe, a rigid bearing sleeve seated in said opening and dependent from the bed plate between said beams and a fiat top full size rotar table having a sup porting bearing direct y beneath the same and provided with a long dependent sleeve journaled in the lower end of the bearing sleeve below the supporting beams, whereby said table is guided both above the bed plate and below the supporting beams so as to rotate truly and overcome gyratory forces In well drilling apparatus, a rotary table having an enlongated bearing sleeve, a base having an elon ted casing in which said sleeve is journa ed, a tubular chuck stem slidingly keyed in thetable sleeve, drill stem engaging means carried by said stem,

a pressure applying head having a relatively rotatable engagement with the chuck stem, power mechanism connected with said head, the table having a hearing at the top of the bearing sleeve and another at the bottom of the bearing sleeve to rotatably support the table sleeve at widely separated points and a surrounding casing for retaining lubricant in said lower nearing.

4. In well drilling apparatus, a rotary table havingan elongated bearing sleeve, a base having'an elongated casing in which said sleeve is journaled, a tubular chuck stem sl'id ingly keyed in the table sleeve, drill stem engaging means carried by said stem, a pressure applying head having a relatively rotatable engagement with the chuck stem, power mechanism connected with said head, said table base and power mechanism being all mounted on a flat bed plate mounted directly on I-beams.

5. In well drilling apparatus, the combination with four supporting beams arranged in spaced parallel relation, a bed plate mounted on said beams and having openings in line with the spaces between the beams, a supporting casing seated in the central opening ant having an elongated dependent bearing sleeve and a rotary table having a dependent elongated sleeve 'ournaled in said bearing sleeve, of a c uck sleeve slidably keyed in said table so as to be rotated thereby irrespective of vertical adjustment of the sleeve through the rotary table, drill stem gripping means carried by said chuck sleeve for adjustable engagement with a drill stem extending through the sleeve and table, controllable power cylinders seated in the side openings and operable irrespective of the rotation of the table and power applying connections from said power cylinders to the chuck sleeve, includ ing relativel rotatable engaging means enabling app ication of accurately regulatable lifting and lowering force to the drill stem during 0 eration of the rotary table.

6. In well diilling apparatus, supporting beams, a substantially flat bed plate mounted on said beams, a rotary table having an elongated bearing sleeve, a base carried by said bed plate having an elongated casing dependent between the beams and in which saidsleeve is journaled, a tubular chuck stem slidingly keyed in the table sleeve, drill stem engaging means carried by said stem, a pressure applying head having a relatively rotatable engagement with the chuck stem, power mechanism mounted on the substantiall .flat bed plate and detachably connecte with said head, said chuck stem being disconnectible from the power mechanism and withdrawable from the table sleeve to leave the same clear for the mounting of adapters or the like for regular rotary drilling.

7. In well drilling apparatus, a bed plate for a rotary table, said bed plate having an opening for seating a table of sufiicient size to pass the casing which is to be used about the drill pipe, a rotary table having a bore of sufiicient size to pass the casing, said table being rotatably seated in said bed plate, a drive sleeve slidingly keyed in said table and entirely withdrawable therefrom to leave the table clear for regular rotary drilling operations, drill pipe driving means carried by the upper end of said sleeve but readily removable therefrom, annular thrust shoulders on the drive sleeve above the table I but below said removable drill pipe driving means, a yoke having relatively rotatable engagement with said thrust shoulders and provided with outstanding arms projecting beyond the edges of the table, power cylinders supported below and at opposite sides of the table, pistons in said cylinders having piston rods rising past the edges of the table and keys for securing the upper ends of said piston rods in readil detachable engagement with the outstan ing arms of the yoke.

8. In combination with the spaced beams, a bed plate supported thereon and provided with an intermediate and two side openings, a table base having a casing extending down through the intermediate opening between two of the beams, power cylinders dependent through the side openings between other beams, a table having a dependent bearing sleeve journaled in the casing, a chuck stem slidingly keyed in the table sleeve, drill stem engaging means carried by said chuck stein, a power applying head having a relatively rotatable engagement with the chuck stem and piston rods rising from the power cylinders and detachably connected with the lead of the chuck.

9. In well drilling apparatus, a rotary table, a drive sleeve slidingly keyed therein, a pressure applying yoke having a relatively rotatable engagement with said sleeve, power mechanism connected with said 'oke for raising and lowering the drive seeve independently of the rotation imparted thereto by the table, drill pipe driving means removably secured at the upper end of said drive sleeve for imparting the rotary and vertical movements of the sleeve to a drill pipe extending therethrough and a bushing removably supported in the lower end of the drive sleeve and having only a guiding engagement with the drill pipe.

10. In well drilling apparatus, a bed plate, a table base removably seated in said bed plate, power cylinders seated in the bed plate at opposite sides of the table base, a rotary table journaled in the base. a tubular chuck stem slidably keyed to the rotary table and provided with a non-rotating head and pistons in the power cylinders provided with rods projecting up at the sides of the table and detachably engaged with the nonrotating head of the chuck.

11. In combination, a bed plate having intermediate and two side openings, a table base secured on the bed plate having a casing extending down through the intermediate opening, power cylinders secured on the base plate and extending down through the side openings, a table having adependent bearing sleeve journaled in the casing and piston rods in the power cylinders extensible u at the sides of the rotary table and at apted for lowering in the cylinders out of the way of the rotary table.

12. \Vell drilling apparatus including a rotary table, a chuck construction slidingly keyed thereto, a yoke engaged relatively rotatably with the chuck construction, power cylinders at the side of the rotar table having inverted packing glands with elongated piston rod bearings, pistons in the cylinders having piston rods operating through said elongated bearings, means for connecting said piston rods with the yoke, said last mentioned means constructed to enable detachment of the piston rods from the yoke whereby the latter may be lowered in the cylinders until the upper ends of the rods are housed in the elongated bearings and protective caps over the upper ends of the cylinders for guarding the piston rods in their lowered positions.

13. In well drilling apparatus, the combination of supporting beams, a substantially fiat bed plate mounted on said beams and provided with an intermediate and two side seats between the beams, a large diameter rotary table having a long dependent bearing sleeve journnled in the intermediate seat of the bed plate, power cylinders supported in the side seats of the bed plate dependent between the beams and located at opposite sides of the rotary table, pistons operating in said cylinders and having piston rods rising above the bed plate at opposite sides of the table, a cross beam detachably mounted on the upper ends of said piston rods, a large diameter drive sleeve journaled in said t't'tlss beam and having a sliding driven engagement in the elongated bearing sleeve of the table, said drive sleeve being shouldered to rest upon and be supported by the table when the pistons are lowered in their cylinders and adjustable drill pipe gripping means removably secured to the upper end portion of the drive sleeve and accessible for adjustment or removal purposes met the top of the table when the drive sleeve is lowered into supported position upon the table.

14. In well drilling apparatus, the combination of a substantially fiat rigid bed plate provided with a large diameter seat for a rotary table and power cylinder seats ieo at opposite sides of said table seat, a large diameter rotary table having an elongated bearing sleeve journaled in the table seat and dependent from the bed plate, power cylinders mounted inthe twoside seats of the bed plate and dependent from said bed plate, beams supporting the bed plate and spaced for passage of the dependent portions of the table sleeve and power cylinders, pistons in the cylinders having projecting piston rods, a beam extending transversel of the table and 'detachably connected with said piston rods, a drive sleeve adjustable to extending through the bearing sleeve of the table and journaled in the cross beam, pipe gripping means carried by said sleeve and ip drill pipe extending down through the s eeve and means for releasably keying the drive sleeve in the dependent bearing sleeve of the table for causing the drive sleeve to rotate with the table 01' to remain at rest in respect to the rotation of said table.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 19th da of March, 1924:.

W DO SHELDON. 

